What is Chicken Yakitori?

Yakitori is a Japanese street food, yaki meaning ’grilled’ and tori meaning ”bird.” These juicy chicken skewers are tender, saucy, and perfect for enjoying on the go! Today’s recipe is inspired by those delicious street food flavors that you can easily recreate at home! Yakitori chicken is coated in a tasty homemade sauce, made with ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and rice wine for a flavor that is everything from sweet to savory to tangy!

Not only are these chicken skewers insanely good, but they only take a few minutes to grill up! 4-6 minutes on each side is just enough time for all of the delicious flavors of the yakitori sauce to sear into the chicken pieces. It’s a quick and easy dish you can serve as both a snack and a meal. Pair your yakitori with white rice for a simple dinner the whole family will love! My kids can’t get enough and always ask for seconds. I’m sure your family will love it too!

What You’ll Need

Yakitori chicken uses a lot of simple ingredients, but you will need to make the sauce from scratch for the best flavor possible. Find the full recipe for yakitori sauce here! Measurements for all of the other ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.

• Yakitori Sauce: The sauce for chicken yakitori is similar to teriyaki, but adds in sake and mirin rice wine for tangier flavor.
• Chicken Thighs: I used chicken thighs here because they’re so juicy and tender! You can also swap these out for chicken breasts or gizzards. No matter what you use, just make sure it’s cut into 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly on the grill.
• Skewers: Metal or bamboo skewers both work.
• Green Onions: Add for garnish! Green onions add a hint of savory flavor that complements these skewers perfectly.

How to Make Yakitori Chicken

These skewers are so simple to make! It’s the perfect quick and easy meal for busy summer weekdays. Find more easy and delicious grilling recipes here!

Try This Next Za’atar Chicken

1. Make Sauce, Toss With Chicken: Prepare yakitori sauce. Add the pieces of chicken to a medium-sized bowl. Add half of the sauce and toss chicken to coat.
2. Prep Skewers: Thread each skewer with chicken.
3. Grill: Turn the grill to medium high. Add the skewers onto the grill. Cook the skewers for 4-6 minutes. Then flip and baste with sauce. Continue to cook until the chicken is cooked throughout and no longer pink.
4. Baste: Baste with sauce. Remove from the grill and serve over white rice and garnish with green onions if desired.

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind as you grill so that your skewers turn out perfectly soft and tender!

• Soak Skewers: If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water before threading with chicken and adding them to the grill. This will prevent them from catching fire.
• Cook Low and Slow: I like to cook my skewers on medium to medium-high heat. If your grill is too hot, this may cook your yakitori unevenly or burn it.
• Check Temperature: Using a thermometer is a quick and easy way to check if your grilled chicken is done. You’ll know it’s done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. This is also a great way to know when to take it off the grill so it doesn’t overcook. If your internal temperatures are anything over 165 degrees, your chicken may turn out dry.
• Let Rest: I always like to let my chicken rest for a few minutes after I pull it off the grill. This way, it absorbs all of those tasty juices necessary for the most tender texture possible!

Storing Leftover Yakitori

Your yakitori chicken is best served fresh, but you can store it for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. When reheating, make sure internal temperatures reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming.

More Amazing Skewer Recipes

Skewers make dinnertime easy! Plus, they’re delicious. You have tasty grilled vegetables and tender meat all in one place! These are a few more recipes to try this grilling season. They work as both an appetizer and a meal! Your friends and family are going to love them. They’re just too good to resist.

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Za’atar Chicken

Seasoned with a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend and grilled, this Za’atar chicken is juicy and packed with unique flavors. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling dinner that no one will forget!

If you have never heard of Za’atar seasoning, you are not alone! I just heard of it recently, and now I’m hooked! It’s a great savory blend of warm and earthy seasonings that will really wow your taste buds. You can also make the spice at home! If you like homemade spices, you’ll have to try this Homemade Fajita Seasoning, this better than store bought Italian Seasoning, and this Taco Seasoning too!

Grilled Za’atar Chicken

So at this point you may be wondering what is Za’atar seasoning? It is a blend of savory, nutty, and earthy spices that usually includes oregano, thyme, marjoram, and sumac. There are different blends of Za’atar seasoning based on where you are eating it. Kind of like curry the ingredients can change based on the area it’s made in. I have a link to the Za’atar seasoning blend in the recipe box below too if you want to make it, or you can pick it up from the store.

Grilled Za’atar Chicken is quickly marinated in the Za’atar seasoning and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I really think you are going to love this dish! It’s an easy 20 minute dinner that would go great with some pita bread and hummus. I also love with baba ganoush which goes great with this Za’atar seasoning. You can actually sprinkle some on top and the flavor is incredible. I think this will be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

These simple ingredients combine to make the most delicious and moist chicken. This Za’atar chicken is so unique, and amazingly flavorful! If you are looking for a great easy dinner, then this is the recipe for you! See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: If you get a breast that is really thick, then you’ll want to flatten it out a bit so that it will all cook evenly on the grill.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is a must for this recipe. It’s a great quality oil that helps the flavors in the seasonings really pop.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is just what this recipe needs to bring out all of these gorgeous flavors!
• Za’atar Seasoning: I love making this blend at home! It is really herby and nutty, and perfect on meat. I add sesame seeds, coriander, and salt to my blend and I think it’s fantastic!
• Garlic: Minced garlic is one of my favorite things to eat on chicken. It’s so full of flavor and makes every bite the perfect one!

Za’atar Chicken Recipe

This recipe is so easy! I love how quickly it comes together and it really is so delicious. I ate it with some tomatoes and pita bread and it was perfection. Some of my kids added salt and pepper, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. You can make it however you like, and I know you are going to love it!

Popular Recipe Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers

1. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, za’atar seasoning, and garlic.
2. Put in Bag: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag then pour the mixture over the chicken.
3. Refrigerate: Seal the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
4. Grill: Grill chicken breasts on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
5. Enjoy: Let the chicken rest before slicing and enjoying!

Tips for Grilling Chicken

Here are a few simple ways to make yourself the master of the grill! Once your friends and family get a bite of your grilled Za’atar chicken, they’ll be hooked. It’s hard not to be when they’re so juicy and flavorful.

• Use a Thermometer: This step is super important so that your chicken doesn’t dry out on the grill. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your chicken. You can take them off the grill when the temperature inside reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cook them any more than that, they may dry out.
• Let Rest: The key to juicy grilled Za’atar chicken is letting it rest for a minute or two after you pull it off the grill. This allows all of the tasty juices to reabsorb, giving you chicken breast that will melt in your mouth! If you cut into them too soon after grilling, those juices may be released instead of absorbing back into the meat.
• Dripping: If you have seasoning and oil dripping off of your chicken, it will make the flames touch the meat and that’s where the black burned part comes from. If you don’t want crispy crunchy parts on your chicken, make sure that your seasoning is all over your chicken, but not dripping off.

Storing Leftovers

Who doesn’t wan’t grilled Za’atar chicken for leftovers? This recipe makes enough to serve eight people, so if you need to save your leftovers here is how.

In the Refrigerator: Store your cooled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Chicken Recipes

I love a simple chicken dinner! But sometimes chicken can taste boring when you are always making it the same way. Here are some recipes that will give you great ideas to keep your chicken tasting unique and juicy!

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